"There's something beyond plain old ignorance that motivates Americans to believe President Obama is a Muslim, according to a first-of-its-kind study of smear campaigns led by a Michigan State University psychologist.

The research by Spee Kosloff and colleagues suggests people are most likely to accept such falsehoods, both consciously and unconsciously, when subtle clues remind them of ways in which Obama is different from them, whether because of race, social class or other ideological differences.

These judgments, Kosloff argues, are irrational. He also suggests they are fueled by an "irresponsible" media culture that allows political pundits and "talking heads" to perpetuate the lies.

"Careless or biased media outlets are largely responsible for the propagation of these falsehoods, which catch on like wildfire," said Kosloff, visiting assistant professor of psychology. "And then social differences can motivate acceptance of these lies."

A Pew Research Center poll in August 2010 found that 18 percent of Americans believe Obama is a Muslim -- up from 11 percent in March 2009 -- even though he's a practicing Christian. Kosloff noted that the poll was conducted before Obama's recent comments supporting the right for Muslims to build a mosque near New York's Ground Zero.

Kosloff and colleagues launched their study prior to the 2008 U.S. presidential election, as the candidates were being bombarded with smear campaigns. It's the first comprehensive experimental study of the psychological factors that motivate Americans to believe the lies. The findings are published in the American Psychological Association's Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.

In four separate experiments (three before the election and one after), the researchers looked at both conscious and unconscious acceptance of political smears by mostly white, non-Muslim college students. For the conscious trials, the participants were shown false blog reports arguing that Obama is a Muslim or a socialist or that John McCain is senile. The unconscious trials involved gauging how rapidly subjects could identify smear-relevant words such as "Muslim" or "turban" after Obama's name was presented subliminally.

Among the results:

•On average, participants who supported McCain said there is a 56 percent likelihood Obama is a Muslim. But when they were asked to fill out a demographic card asking for their own race, the likelihood jumped to 77 percent. Kosloff said this shows that simply thinking about a social category that differentiated participants from Obama was enough to get them to believe the smear.
•Participants undecided about the candidates said there is a 43 percent chance McCain is senile -- a number that increased to 73 percent when they simply listed their own age on a card.
•Undecided participants said there is a 25 percent chance Obama is a socialist -- a number that jumped to 62 percent when they considered race. "Even though being a socialist has nothing to do with race," Kosloff said, "irrationally they tied the two together."
Kosloff said the increase in belief that Obama is Muslim likely reflects a growing disenchantment with his presidency -- a sense that people feel Obama is not on their side.

"When people are unsatisfied with the president -- whether it's the way he's handling the economy, health care or Afghanistan -- our research suggests that this only fuels their readiness to accept untrue rumors," Kosloff said.

"As his job rating goes down, suggesting that people feel like he's not ideologically on their side, we see an increase in this irrational belief that he's a Muslim," he added. "Unfortunately, in America, many people dislike Muslims so they'll label Obama as Muslim when they feel different from him."

The study was done with researchers from the University of Arizona, the University of British Columbia and Leiden University in the Netherlands.

“Living backwards!” Alice repeated in great
astonishment. “I never heard of such a thing!”
“—but there’s one great advantage in it, that one’s
memory works both ways.”
— Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass

September 1, 20107:24 pm

frrostedman

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When our President celebrates Ramadan and only interrupts the Ramadan dinner to give public support for a Mosque at ground zero? It's hard to come away from that with the conclusion he is an Evangelical Christian... or anything but Muslim for that matter. 😐

Not saying he's Muslim, just saying his own actions, and not the actions of a smear campaign, are what drive people to think what they think about him.

Every one who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that a spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe-a spirit vastly superior to that of man. - Albert Einstein

September 1, 20108:53 pm

Aquarian

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So Obama gives a message on Ramadan and connects it with the "dangers" of "swine flu" and its tantamount to celebrating it?

Except that the hosting of Ramadan events, dinners, etc. began under the Bush Administration in an effort to combat the negative image he was able to generate to Muslims in the U.S. and around the world: http://fjordman.blogspot.com/2005/10/pr ... madan.html

Really frrostedman, I think there are more legitimate issues in which people can use to attack Obama.

The anti-Muslim hysteria is not one of them.

The Few assume to be the deputies, but they are often only the despoilers of the Many.
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

September 1, 20109:25 pm

Cole_Trickle

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These judgments, Kosloff argues, are irrational. He also suggests they are fueled by an "irresponsible" media culture that allows political pundits and "talking heads" to perpetuate the lies.

"Careless or biased media outlets are largely responsible for the propagation of these falsehoods, which catch on like wildfire," said Kosloff, visiting assistant professor of psychology. "And then social differences can motivate acceptance of these lies."

This is absolute truth: All of the above---Now a reasonable person of even average intelligence would almost certainly ask WHY and HOW they do this---The explanation is what usually drives the wedge that ultimately divides the targeted group of people, or segment/demographic of a certain segment.

They pay certain people large amounts of money to perpetuate these LIES! It's big big business. I can post countless examples of how they do it---Most of their messengers are very very attractive female anchors---tight tops/cleavage and skirts. I'm surprised more people don't catch on to this simple tactic.

IN MY OPINION: It Gives the average well meaning woman a bad rap. Reminds me of Jerry Lawler and his " Loser Leaves Town " Grudge matches.

The King himself:

Carnival barking expert: That's how bad all of the propaganda has become> Everything has a purpose when it comes to the TV.

Bring Em All HomeCole

September 1, 201010:50 pm

sandra

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"Aquarian" wrote:

Really frrostedman, I think there are more legitimate issues in which people can use to attack Obama.

The anti-Muslim hysteria is not one of them.

I agree. However some of it has been proved to be quite tactiful,
many people I have talked with about Obama, one of the first
things that come up is "the guy is a Muslim".

“Living backwards!” Alice repeated in great
astonishment. “I never heard of such a thing!”
“—but there’s one great advantage in it, that one’s
memory works both ways.”
— Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass

September 1, 201011:06 pm

sandra

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"Cole_Trickle" wrote:

These judgments, Kosloff argues, are irrational. He also suggests they are fueled by an "irresponsible" media culture that allows political pundits and "talking heads" to perpetuate the lies.

"Careless or biased media outlets are largely responsible for the propagation of these falsehoods, which catch on like wildfire," said Kosloff, visiting assistant professor of psychology. "And then social differences can motivate acceptance of these lies."

This is absolute truth: All of the above---Now a reasonable person of even average intelligence would almost certainly ask WHY and HOW they do this---The explanation is what usually drives the wedge that ultimately divides the targeted group of people, or segment/demographic of a certain segment.

Bring Em All HomeCole

Someone has high standards if you ask me.

Most people do not realise these things or it would have alot less bearing wouldn't ya say.

They don't filter through, they take it all in.
Cuase is nearly never face falue.

Although I liked the statistics of 43% chance McCain is senile

“Living backwards!” Alice repeated in great
astonishment. “I never heard of such a thing!”
“—but there’s one great advantage in it, that one’s
memory works both ways.”
— Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass

September 1, 201011:48 pm

Nesaie

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Why is this even an issue? From the God of Nature:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the Freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Since the Bill of Rights comes from the Natural God, it applies to all humans, no matter where their born, even if they're born in Kenya.

We just need to exercise our Rights daily, or they may wither away, just like muscles.

Such a society would be dominated by an elite, unrestrained by traditional values. Soon it will be possible to assert almost continuous surveillance over every citizen... - Zbigniew Brezhinsky

Comparing using freedom of rights to nationally overcoming
obesity is equally realistic, from the inside.

“Living backwards!” Alice repeated in great
astonishment. “I never heard of such a thing!”
“—but there’s one great advantage in it, that one’s
memory works both ways.”
— Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass

September 2, 20101:01 am

Aquatank

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Hey frrostedman
Obama also celebrated Passover with a Seder Meal this year, the first in White House history on April 9, 2010. Get over it.

Comparing using freedom of rights to nationally overcoming
obesity is equally realistic, from the inside.

Ah... 😀 If we All knew our Rights, and the limited privileges of government, we wouldn't be obese. 😉

Sandra, how much information to you have or want about the history of high fructose corn syrup and farm subsidies? Did you know that all ketchup/catsup has gmo high fructose corn syrup? The only way to get away from it is to either make your own or to buy organic. What about gmo corn/soy/rapeseed?

What about another monsanto product of rBGH? Or, Agent Orange from the Vietnam "police action"? Or, which monsanto exec is part of the SPP?

Sandra, if you want information about this area of "conspiracy", just ask. I can give you tons of more information.

Such a society would be dominated by an elite, unrestrained by traditional values. Soon it will be possible to assert almost continuous surveillance over every citizen... - Zbigniew Brezhinsky

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